Tuesday 27 July 2010

Goddess Gratitude Ritual

During my recent surgery and recuperation, I called on three Goddesses of Healing for help and protection. In order to thank Them properly for Their assistance, I performed a little gratitude ritual on the Summer Solstice.

On that beautiful summer evening, I placed a statue of each Goddess outside on our patio table. A glass containing an appropriate sacred drink was set before each Goddess. After smudging, I thanked each Goddess in turn, drank some of Her sacred drink and then poured the rest onto the earth as a libation for Her.

To honour and thank Sekhmet, the ferocious Egyptian Goddess of Destruction and Healing, I used a libation of beer. This seemed appropriate since, according to myth, a lake of beer disguised as blood is what once stopped one of Her destructive rampages by getting Her completely pie-eyed. Beer has been sacred to Her ever since.


To honour and thank Hygeia, Greek Goddess of Healing and Protectress against Infection, I used a libation of white wine. I had been fearful of catching an infection in hospital and, indeed, my first roomie developed C. difficile and had to be isolated as a result. But Hygeia came through for me and I remained infection free! [Image of Hygeia by Gustav Klimt]


To honour and thank Brigid, Celtic Goddess of Healing, I used a libation of whisky -- the sacred water of life. I wasn't able to find a tiny bottle of real Irish whisky in the liquor store, so I trusted that Canadian rye whisky would do! [Image of Brigid by Lunaea Weatherstone]


And yes, I was a little tipsy afterwards. I hardly ever drink, so it doesn't take much booze to get me all giggly (take note, those of you looking for a cheap date, ha ha!)

16 comments:

Celestite said...

This was wonderful, thanks for sharing. I'm sure they will all be willing to help out again, hopefully you won't need them for the same reason.

Anonymous said...

What a great Ritual of thanks. For the record, I would have been either a) asleep beneath the stars or b) cruising for trouble. Alcohol does weird things to me.

mxtodis123 said...

I'm surprised that your tummy was not a little upset? LOL!!!!
Mary

Judy said...

Wonderful ritual...Healing and fun for all...Thanks for sharing...

Kathy said...

What a great ritual! Maybe you weren't tipsy; maybe it was just euphoria from being in the presence of such intoxicating Goddesses. Nah. It was the booze.

Snap said...

And worth every drop!!!!!!!!

RA said...

Thanks for shring this, Debra! :)

Actually, when Sekhmet lapped up the beer and got drunk, she become Hathor. The two goddesses are the two aspects of the same. In Ancient Egypt the great festival in Hathor's honour was celebrated by drinking beer and making merry during 8 days!!

jaz@octoberfarm said...

canada is where i got turned on to shortbread!!! the blog tech is a canadian. he was born there whereas my daughter was just made there!

Jaliya said...

Sekhmet and beer?! Wow. I can't help but think of cats and beer ... yeeeuck! ;-D

Here's to the goddesses ... to spirits ... to cats ... to healing ... to YOU!

xoxo

Anonymous said...

Now I know why I'm the best looka-after-a... give me some alcohol and I'll help in any sishuassion ;0)

yellowdoggranny said...

I pray to Freya and she said she'd just kick your illess's ass..

Anonymous said...

How lovely! Being allergic to barley, I offer Sekhmet pomegranate juice - as that is what the beer was supposedly coloured with - or red wine. I find it packs a LOT more punch when ritually consumed o_* Looove that Klimt Hygeia and hooray for you on not winning the C. difficile lottery - YUCK!

Lynette Killam said...

Hello Debra..I stopped by to thank you for your lovely comments on my blog...much appreciated! And now I'm catching up on your news. Hope you're starting to feel like yourself again, after surgery..always an unsettting occurence.

I enjoyed your gratitude ritual. Loving all things Egyptian, I was interested in your offering of beer to Sekhmut. Hopefully the goddesses are rewarding you with good health.

I recently started a second blog for my travel pics, but haven't put up any of Egypt yet. That will be my next goal. If you're interested, do peek into it in a while.

Have a good visit with your mom...

Lynette

Rue said...

Love the story about the beer lake!

And Canadian Rye Whisky always does the trick!

So..when you come to BC and I take you to the pub for wing night - you are going to need a designated driver?

Beatnheart said...

I love the images...beautiful goddesses.

angelina said...

hi, sending healing thoughts and wishes your way.xx